Talk: Unpacking the theology of Christian Nationalism

Rev Dr Helen Paynter. Image Bristol Baptists

Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence, spoke on Saturday, 17 January at a packed meeting in St James Church, Piccadilly, hosted by Better Story, a movement of Christians organising to resist the far right.

Dr Paynter described Christian Nationalism as being ethnic and political as well as religious. It stresses an 'us against them' stance where 'we' are British, Christian and mostly white and 'they' are foreigners, refugees, migrants, outsiders, members of non-Christian religions and often people of colour. It is often associated with open racism and xenophobia.

British Christian Nationalism has been gaining ground in the past ten years, since Britain First members targeted mosques by preaching outside them and leafleting inside them. At a July 2024 rally of far-right supporters organised by Tommy Robinson, preacher Cei Dewar spoke about being at war against Muslims and all other 'enemies' of Christian Britain. At Robinson's September 2025 Unite the Kingdom rally in London, attended by around 150,000 people, preacher Brian Tamaki called for the banning of all religions except Christianity and suggested that there is a state of war between Christians and all non-Christian religions.

This conflation of British national identity with Christianity is often expressed, said Dr Paynter, in 'thin' theological terms, slogans with little content, which may appeal to 'cultural' Christians who are not involved in church life and have little understanding of theology. But there are weightier works of 'thick' theology concentrating on rationales for restoring Christian Britain. These can be appealing to devout Christians who are opposed to racism but distressed by the decline of Christian faith and practice and feel marginalised on account of their faith. It is easy to yield to the temptation to seek alliances with political power to restore the influence of the Church.

In order to avoid being 'captured' by this movement, Dr Paynter makes ten recommendations: speak humbly, disavow violence, avoid stereotypes, promote dialogue, be curious about why people embrace these views, tackle key drivers such as deprivation and marginalisation, be prophetic, fund youth work to help prevent radicalisation, build biblical understanding, and learn from history.

Dr Paynter warned against demonising people attracted to Christian Nationalism, calling for loving and well-informed conversations to dissuade people from embracing it. Noting that Christ remains in control, she also advised us, "Don't panic!"

For more information, read The Church, the Far Right, and the Claim to Christianity, edited by Helen Paynter and Maria Power.

LINK

Better Story: www.betterstory.info/